Brace for dredging-machines



(No Model.) 2 sheetsnsneet 1. E. HUBER, H. M. BARNHART 8U G. W. KING.

ABRAGE PORDRBDGING MACHINES. No. 364,761'. Patented June 14, 1887.

N. PEKERS PhMo-unwgnplmr. Washington. l1 c,

l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.. E. HUBER, H. M, BARNHART & G. W. KING.

(No Mdel.)

BRAGE POR DREDGING MACHINES.

Patented June 14,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HUBER, HENRY M. BARNHART, AND GEORGE w. KING, OE

' MARION, OHIO.

BRACE FORA DREDGINGNIACHIUNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 364,761, dated June 14, 1887.

I AA'pplicatlm filed FcbruarylQ, 1887. Serial No. 228,192. (No model.) v

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD HUBER, HENRY M. BARNHART, and GEORGE W. KING, of Marion, inthe county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Braces forDredging-Machines; and we do -hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. y

Ourinvention relates to an improvement in adjustable braces for dredges, ditchingmachines, and other similar apparatus that combine traveling cranes therewith, the object being to furnish a device that will be universal in its application, and that in its operation will prevent the oscillation or side sway of a vessel or oating platform that supports a traveling crane used for dredging channels or other similar purposes.

With these objects in View our invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, that will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation of the device in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the self-adjusting brace.

Arepresents the hull of a dredger or a lioatingplatform, upon which is mounted theframe B. The converging timbers of the frame B are-joined at the upper ends to form a support for the crane H. The base of this crane is secured upon the deck of the hullvA. We de not restrict oursel ves to any particular style of crane, and therefore do not show itin the drawings.

Upon the deck-timbers of the hull A the frame D is rigidly secured. rlhis is suitably braced to render it perfectly stable iu position.

At the upper corners of thelframe D triangular bracket-plates F are attached by bolts or .other approved method. The. arms E, that are hinged at E3 to the deck-timbers, are made to extenda properdistance laterally to engage the adjustable platforms G G'. These platforms are placed upon the banks of a ditch or in the bottom of the same, as may be necessary, The outer ends, E2, of the arms E' are hinged to the platforms to permit pivotal movement at both of their ends. If it is desired, the arms E' may be made extensible by changing the points of bolted connection oftheto engage the toes formed upon the short limbsof the levers F'. The bracket-plates F are attached to each side of the locking-bars C, and their projecting corners form cheek-plates to hold the bars .G in position laterally. The frame B is properly stayed by trussing-bolts I, that are inserted at necessary points to render it stable.

In operation, the dredging-machine is anchored at a point where operations are to be conducted. The arms E are extended to engage the stationary platforms G G', that are located upon the banks of the stream that floats the hull of the dredger. These platforms are of sufficient superficial area to afford a secure base from which to brace the vesseland prevent rocking motion ordinarily incidental to dredging-machines when the traveling crane that raises and transports the-earthy material is made to swing from one side to the other of the hull. It will be apparent from an inspection of the figures that the arms E will adjust or accommodate their position to the relative positions of the platforms G G', and this will be the case without regard to the conformation of the earthy base upon which the platforms rest. The locking-bars C are self-adj usting in relation to the brackets F, and are rigidly secured in locked adjustment with these plates .by the movement of the cam-levers F', which are pivoted to permit an engagement of their toes with the notches a' of the racks R when the long ends of the handles of the cam-levers F' are vibrated to effect such a locking contact of these parts. When the locking bars C are made to engage the levers F', as just de- Ico scribed, they become rigid truss-braces and prevent lateral vibration of the frame B and any mechanism secured to it. Consequently the oscillations or swaying motion of the hull of the dredger is prevented and the entire apparatus is rendered stable while in use.

Many slight changes might be made in the constructive details of this device without exceeding its scope or violating its spirit. XVe do not therefore desire to restrict ourselves to exact forms shown; but,

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a dredgingmachine or other similar device using a swinging crane, the combination, with the hull, of twolateral hinged arms and two adjustable locking-bars adapted to hold the lateral arms in rigid connection with the hull, substantially as set forth.

2. In a dredging-machine or floating vessel employing a traveling or swinging crane, the combination, with the hull, a frame erected on the hull, and two adjustable platforms, of two hinged arms made to pivotally engage the frame-work and platforms and two lockingbars that are pivoted to the platforms and are adjustably locked to the frame to render the pivot-joints'of the lateral arms rigid, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ED\VARD HUBER. HENRY M. BARNHART. GEORGE V. KING.

fitnessesz J. E. DAvIDs, Tnoims Inni'. 

